Role of infections in miscarriage

Infections with certain pathogens can lead to perinatal complications. Several infections have also been associated with an increased likelihood of a miscarriage. This manuscript discusses these infections, their modes of transmission, the evidence linking them to an increased risk of miscarriage, and whether prevention or treatment strategies are available.</p

Congenital Glaucoma – Case Reports

Congenital glaucoma is a rare sight threatening disease that is characterized by an autosomal-recessively inheritance. The high intraocular pressure in congenital glaucoma is due to abnormalities in the development of the anterior chamber angle and is not associated with other ocular or systemic anomalies. Typical findings are trabecular dysgenesis and glaucomatous changes of the ocular fundus. The involvement of gene mutations of GLC3A and GLC3B has already been proven to be a part  of the pathogenesis of the disease. Purpose: To present a clinical cases with proven congenital glaucoma and to analyze the outcome of treatment. Material: 7 months old male and 1 year and 5month female, admitted for a subsequent follow up in the Eye Clinic of the University Alexandrovska Hospital – Sofia. Methods: A complete ophthalmologic examination under general anesthesia, tonometry, echobiometry, gonioscopy and refraction. Results: One of the patient had unilateral glaucoma and have been operated twice with following topical therapy. The other child has bilateral disease, single surgery of both eyes and does not require additional topical medication. Both children are at risk of deprivation amblyopia. Conclusion: Congenital glaucoma is a socially significant disease because of the poor vision prognosis. More than one operation is often required, as well as maintenance conservative treatment. A lifelong monitoring of intraocular pressure and retinal nerve fiber layer is required

Health Related Web Site Usage by Persons with Serious Mental Illness: Design and Use of a Heath Literacy Survey Tool

Objectives: A health literacy focused web site review survey was designed as an initial step in a multi-institutional project to build a website for persons with serious mental illness to help them better understand issues relating to their physical health. This presentation will describe the design, testing, implementation and results of this survey tool. Methods: The literature shows that persons with serious mental illness (SMI) approach the use of online health information differently than the general population. In 2015, the University of Massachusetts, in collaboration with other academic medical institutions, received a grant to build a new website for persons with SMI that will teach them how to find high quality online health information and will specifically guide them to information about their physical health. As a first step, the project team created a health literacy based survey tool to evaluate current health websites for their utility with an SMI audience. The survey was designed using and building upon an existing validated instrument. It was administered to experts on mental and physical disease. Results will be used to determine quality indicators of the new site and to selected sites to which it will link. Results: 13 reviewers were identified to complete the survey. Four of the identified participants did not complete the task and others were identified to take their places. Ten participants ultimately completed the surveys. Participants were asked to review between four and five websites focusing on four different topics – cardiovascular health, diabetes, obesity and smoking – all comorbidities with prevalence in the SMI community. The websites were chosen based on Google searches that were performed using examples of layperson searches observed in preliminary focus group activities. The top five non-advertiser-supported sites were included. The survey consisted of 61 questions. The questions were developed using existing open access survey tools (e.g., the DISCERN instrument) and findings on website usage by people with SMI that were discovered in the existing literature. Questions focused on format, navigation, usability and credibility of the sites. Questions were also asked about any etiologic, diagnostic, therapeutic or prognostic information contained in the sites. 65 responses were received. Conclusion: Results of the survey demonstrated a sampling of health websites that met the criteria for effective use with an SMI population. The authors believe that this survey could also be adapted and used as a general comprehensive health website evaluation tool. It will be made available as an open access document

The Development of a Standardized Tool to Evaluate Physical Health Websites through the Lens of Persons with Serious Mental Illness

In 2015, the Lamar Soutter Library and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Massachusetts Medical School received a grant from the National Library of Medicine to design an online tool that will provide persons with serious mental illness a means to acquire resources that will assist them in learning about co-morbidities often faced by this population. One of the first steps in creating this tool is to identify health-related websites that will meet strict quality measures applicable for use by our target audience. To facilitate this process, subject experts with skills in both mental health and physical health have been identified and will be asked to complete a comprehensive survey that will evaluate the identified websites. The survey will address aspects of each website reviewed such as content and credibility, format, usability and interactivity plus the evaluation of etiologic, diagnostic, therapeutic and/or prognostic information contained on the site. This poster will describe the evidence-based methodology used in developing and testing this survey instrument. Preliminary results, discussion of evaluative data and next steps will also be discussed

Role of patients’ organizations in Health Technology Assessment: a Habermasian system and lifeworld perspective

Patient and public involvement in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is gaining increased interest among research and policy communities. Patients’ organizations represent an important link between individual patients and the health system. Social theories are increasingly being used to explain doctor–patient–system interactions, expanding understanding beyond the mere clinical perspective. In this sense, patient involvement in HTA can also be considered through the Habermas’s theory of communicative action. From a Habermasian perspective, HTA as part of the instrumental rationality contributes to an increased efficiency of resource use within the system; however, such rationalization threatens to colonize the lifeworld by making it “increasingly state administered with attenuated possibilities for communicative action as a result of the commercialization and rationalization in terms of immediate returns.” Using Habermasian system/lifeworld framework, this paper explores opportunities and obstacles to patient involvement in HTA, whereby trying to understand current and possible roles of patients’ organizations as a mediating force between HTA as a function of the system and the lifeworld represented by patients

eMental Health Bridges Project: A Web Site Development Project to Provide Needed Mental and Physical Health Information to People with Serious Mental Illness [English and Spanish versions]

A Spanish translation of this publication is available to download under Additional Files below. The eMental Health Bridges project will promote health literacy by developing, testing, and implementing: 1) eMH4me training modules to provide guidance for individuals with SMI on web-based information searching, judging source and site credibility, and interpreting data; and 2) web site prototypes that will serve as a connection to essential physical health information for individuals living with SMI. eMental Health Bridges will embrace user experience and design accommodations required for individuals with SMI to benefit fully from eHealth resources

Biopreservation of chocolate mousse with Lactobacillus helveticus 2/20: Microbial Challenge Test

Probiotic bacteria are used for food biopreservation because their metabolic products might contribute to ensuring food microbiological safety and/or increase its shelf life without the addition of chemical preservatives. Moreover, biopreserved foods are excellent vehicles for the delivery of probiotic bacteria. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential of chocolate mousse food matrix for the delivery of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus helveticus 2/20 (Lb. helveticus 2/20) and to investigate its capacity to inhibit the growth of two foodborne pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli). Therefore, the populations of free or encapsulated in calcium alginate Lb. helveticus 2/20 cells and/or of each pathogen (used to voluntarily contaminate each sample) were monitored both in complex nutrient medium (MRS broth) and in chocolate mousse under refrigeration conditions and at room temperature. Lb. helveticus 2/20 alone in free or encapsulated state effectively inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 in chocolate mousse when stored at 20 ± 2 °C. Practically no viable unwanted bacteria were identified on the 7th day from the beginning of the process. High viable Lb. helveticus 2/20 cell populations were maintained during storage under refrigerated conditions (4 ± 2 °C) and at room temperature. Chocolate mousse is thus a promising food matrix to deliver probiotic Lb. helveticus 2/20 cells, which could also protect it from contamination by unwanted bacteria